“Well, Tony’s had a really good offseason,” Alford told ESPN.com. “He’s lost 20, 25 pounds. I think he’s built a lot of confidence by seeing what that does. He’s moving better, he’s in better condition. He’s making plays now because he’s in shape. So I think because of all that he’s kind of rededicated to the game, and he’s built some confidence. Hopefully that momentum carries forward because he’s a very good low-post threat but he’s learned to move out. He can knock down the 15-foot shot. Now he’s defending much better because he’s lost the weight.”

Parker’s freshman year didn’t go how many pictured it’d would for the No. 27 overall recruit in 2013. He didn’t see time on the floor, either due to injuries or conditioning, and following questions from the media and even his own tweets, it appeared he could be the next Bruin to transfer out of the program. But his dedication to getting into shape is a good sign UCLA. Returning to school, and returning to school in better shape tells you he feels good about the direction Alford is taking the program and the role he has for him on this year’s team.

Parker being able to play meaningful minutes and produce gives the Bruins another body on the frontline to go along with the Wear twins. The Bruins are coming off a season where they had the worst rebounding margin in the Pac-12 Conference, and entering this season UCLA will have to go up against Arizona, the conference preseason favorite featuring one of the nation’s best front courts.